Just before the start of NBA free agency, the Celtics have given themselves a chance to retain Grant WIlliams.
Boston has extended Williams a qualifying offer, per Jared Weiss of The Athletic, making the forward a restricted free agent. As a restricted free agent, Williams can sign an offer sheet with any team. But, the Celtics now have the ability to retain him by matching the terms of another team’s offer sheet.
While the addition of Kristaps Porzingis has led some to question the need for Williams, this move makes sense on a couple levels. Williams can go chase the money he thinks he deserves, and Boston has the power to match that or completely pass.
From a personnel standpoint, he’s still a fit because of the construction of Boston’s big-man group. Williams provides a versatile 3-and-D option who doesn’t come with the same health concerns as the rest of the group. Porzingis and Time Lord are injury-prone, and Al Horford is — in case you haven’t heard — old. And even when all three are healthy, Williams can help give Jayson Tatum rest throughout the regular season, too.
NBA free agency is set to begin on Friday at 6 p.m.